Russians march against anti-US adoption ruling

The law banning American adoptions of Russian children brought out the biggest crowd of demonstrators in months on Sunday as Russians angrily accused their government of playing politics with orphans, depriving them of the opportunity for a decent life.

Many thousands walked through gently falling snow and harsh cold, some carrying posters bearing the names and faces of the 420 members of the Duma, or lower house of parliament, who voted for the ban last month. Only seven voted against the measure. The word “shame" was emblazoned across the photos of the MPs who voted in favour, and the protest was organised as the “March Against Scoundrels".

The rally came after 13 extra­ordinary months in Russia’s emerging political consciousness.

In December 2011, demonstrators began to rally for fair elections, charging that the vote for the Duma that month had been distorted by widespread fraud in favour of President
Vladimir Putin
’s United Russia Party. The authorities have fought back with repressive laws and a robust anti-Americanism.

Although leaders of the opposition joined Sunday’s march, it was cast as a civic event, not a political one. The rally seemed to rouse the opposition, bringing out stay-at-homes as well as those who had begun to avoid protest as they lost hope in its effectiveness.

Related Quotes

Company Profile

The Duma has passed ever more restrictive laws against dissidents, who first came out on the streets because they considered the parliamentary election illegitimate.

Mr Putin began to blame the nascent protest movement on manipulative American policy, accusing Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton
of encouraging such demonstrations. In September, the United States Agency for International Development was expelled from Russia.

The Duma went on to pass the adoption ban and is considering a law making it illegal for Russians with dual citizenship and foreigners to criticise Russia on state media.

The adoption ban was passed in retaliation for the US Magnitsky Act, which imposes visa and financial restrictions on corrupt Russians and has infuriated Mr Putin. But many Russians approve of it because they see it as aimed at crooked officials rather than ordinary citizens.

The number of marchers was in high dispute. Police estimated 9500, but from a standpoint at the crest of a hill, with marchers packing both sides of a wide boulevard, the crowd appeared much larger.